Citation for Rotaract Clubs

Rotaract clubs that achieve the Rotaract goals by the end of the Rotary year will earn a citation. All activities need to be completed by August 15. To be eligible for the Rotary Citation, Rotaract clubs need to be certified by RI and endorsed by the district governor before July 1.

Use this worksheet to set your goals and track your progress.

Citation Category Goal Detail Set Your Goal Goal Achieved

Club membership How many total members does your club want by the end of the Rotary year?

Service participation How many members will participate in club service activities during the Rotary year?

Rotary Action Group participation How many club members will be members of at least one Rotary Action Group during the Rotary year?

Leadership development participation How many leadership or professional development programmes will your club organise to enhance members’ skills?

District conference attendance How many members will attend your district conference?

Rotary Fellowship participation District training participation How many club members will be members of a Rotary Fellowship during the Rotary year?

How many of your club members attend a district training?

Learning Center engagement Annual Fund contributions PolioPlus Fund events

How many club members will access the Learning Center and how many courses will they complete? Will your club contribute to Rotary’s Annual Fund, and will these contributions meet the requirements for the Rotaract Giving Certificate? During the Rotary year, how many events will your club hold to raise funds for or increase awareness of Rotary’s work to eradicate polio? Service projects Will your club partner with your sponsor club on a significant local or international service project in one of Rotary’s six areas of focus? Rotaract clubs How many Rotaract clubs will your club sponsor during the Rotary year?

Interact clubs

RYLA participation How many Interact clubs will your club co-sponsor during the Rotary year? How many of your club members will be involved in planning or participating in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards?

Programmes for young leaders

Will your club host a meeting that introduces members to Rotary programmes, including RYLA and New Generations Service Exchange? Strategic plan Does your club have an updated strategic plan? Online presence Does your club’s online presence accurately reflect its current activities? Update website and social media During the Rotary year, how many times per month will your club’s website or social media accounts be updated?

Social activities How many social activities will your club hold outside of regular meetings during the Rotary year?

Media stories about club projects Did your club promote an event or activity that it held during World Rotaract Week on social media?

Use of official Rotary promotional materials Did your club use Rotary International’s messaging and public service materials, such as broadcast videos, print ads, and other material in the Brand Center, to promote Rotaract in your community during the Rotary year?

RAC Khamgaon conducts medical camp at rural village

Kiran Zehra

Rotaractors helping the villagers to register at the medical camp.

Medical camps conducted in villages are a timely help for the patients who have

A villager getting his eyes tested. no access to hospitals and medicines,” says Sachin Pawar, secretary, RAC Khamgaon, RID 3131. The club has been camp at Hivarkhed village, 25km from Khamgaon.

Mahadev Hatkar, a resident of Hivarkhed, helped the Rotaractors organise the camp. “He promoted the camp by going door-to-door asking the villagers to register for the camp,” says Pawar.

“Neighbouring villages frequently had medical camps. This is the first time our village hosted a camp and had visitors from other villages,” says Hatkar. Apart from addressing chronic ailments such as diabetes,

conducting medical camps in villages around Khamgaon for the past nine years. Recently the club conducted a medical

Rotaractors distribute biscuits at a slum area.

hypertension, orthopaedic problems and eye disorders, the camp also had a gynaecologist who helped women understand menstrual hygiene.

“Physicallychallenged, pregnant women and elderly persons are the biggest beneficiaries of our annual camps,” says Dr Bhagat Singh Rajput. Along with his team Rajput screened, tested and treated over 250 villagers.

Pawar points out that “many of the villagers are daily wage workers and they hardly have the time or money for a visit to the hospital. Most of the time they go to a doctor only when their condition turns worse. Camps like these help screen and identify the problems at an early stage.”

Close to 10 Rotarians from RC Khamgoan and 22 Rotaractors from the club were present at the camp to take care of the arrangements.

The club donated sarees to women from poor economic background. The club also conducted a biscuit distribution drive in slum colonies.

Many of the villagers are daily wage workers and they hardly have the time or money for a visit to the hospital. Most of the time they go to a doctor only when their condition

turns worse.

Udgir Rotaractors on a service mission

V Muthukumaran

With the success of two events on March 8 — Mahadan 7.0, a blood donation camp; and a seminar to mark Women’s Day — RAC Udgir, RID 3132, has got its batteries recharged and the Rotaractors are keen to expand their membership by holding awareness meets and workshops in colleges in the near future. “We are just a 15-member community-based club. Much needs to be done to create awareness about Rotary, what it stands for and its global reach,” says Sachin Pensalwar, club president.

He is looking forward to add at least five new members by December 2022. Udgir is a very small town in Latur taluk of Maharashtra and is 80km from Bidar district of Karnataka. “The town is close to the inter-state border and has a sizeable population of small businessmen who are engaged in granite, tiles and garment industries. Our five-yearold club has mostly these entrepreneurs and students and it is sponsored by the parent RC Udgir Central,” explains Pensalwar. At the recent Mahadan camp, they collected 40 units of blood which was given to the Amberkhane Blood Bank, Udgir.

A special lecture was given by Dr Yernale Jyoti, a gynaecologist, on gender-specific issues such as menstrual hygiene, ensuring dignity of girls and underprivileged women, and healthcare tips. “The seminar was attended by 20 rural women and we received good feedback on this lecture event. We distributed around 1,000 Rotaract calendars to the public in January. The Rotaract calendar was funded by entrepreneurs who placed advertisements on it for wider reach among the public in and around Udgir. Also, we got donations from reputed schools, colleges and other establishments.”

Cyclothon on road safety

Along with Rotarians and youth volunteers, the club hosted a cyclothon rally in August 2021 to create awareness on road safety. “Over 100–120 people including members from the Rotary fraternity took part in the cycle rally. T-shirts and handbills were distributed to drive home the message of road safety among pedestrians, commuters and motorists,” says Pensalwar.

However, due to the Covid lockdown, the club was not able to chart out project activities in an effective manner, he says. “We resumed our activities only from January 2022 and are meeting twice a month to chart our programmes.” They don’t depend on their parent Rotary club to mentor or guide them in their community projects. “We don’t have a Rotarian mentor to help us in our projects which are decided only through discussions among our members.”

Apart from the annual membership fee of `1,000 per head, the club develops a rapport with local businessmen and traders who sponsor Rotaract activities on a regular basis.

Pensalwar, his secretary Prasad Rudrawar and rest of the team are toying with the idea of holding Rotary workshops in colleges and schools to increase membership and widen the impact of their service projects. Having completed masters in computer science, 26-year-old Pensalwar is on a job hunt. “At present, I am fully enjoying my stint as Rotaract club president. Rotary has widened my perspectives of life and instilled in me a spirit of service to mankind,” he adds.

Left: RAC Udgir president Sachin Pensalwar honouring Supriya Mahadev Bhandare, a participant at the Women’s Day celebrations. Also seen are (from L) district zonal representative Amol Polawar, Rtr Pratik Mangulkar, her husband Bhandare and past president Suyog Kotalwal.

Rotaract fundraisers help communities

Jaishree

Come June, the Rotaractors of RAC Chennai Towers, RID 3232, will be all set to provide better huts to the Irula tribe living on the outskirts of Chennai, thanks to an ongoing fundraiser. The club’s dedication to community service over the past nine years has also earned them a valuable donor who is ready to extend financial support to renovate the huts of the tribal people.

Club president Sivaranjani Babu came across the community living in dire straits on the city’s outskirts at a village named Pazhaiyanoor near Chengalpattu. They have been ostracised by the villagers and are living in isolation, she says. When she conveyed this to her club the members readily decided to help.

For years, the club, under their project Conquerors, has been into designing monthly sheet calendars featuring women achievers from various fields and these calendars, priced at `250 each, are readily bought by NGOs and other

Rotary/Rotaract clubs. The proceeds from its sale is used to fund a service project every year.

Children of the Irula tribe pose for a photograph.

This year’s sale of calendars will help to renovate the huts of 25 Irula tribals. “The huts are in a pathetic shape and would just collapse any moment. So we discussed with the tribals and decided to strengthen the huts and provide a stronger roof using cement sheets,” she says. Each hut would need at least 15–20 sheets. The total cost of the project is `2.5 lakh.

Since last year the club has been conducting Ranchana, a mega painting competition for young children from all walks of the society across the city. Mentors are engaged to teach the fine aspects of art to the participants. Drawing kits are provided to all participants by the club. This year the Rotaractors invited 35 children of the Irula families to participate in the painting competition. Transport was arranged to bring the children to the venue in Chennai and drop them back at their homes. “The children had such a memorable experience that day. They were happy to exhibit their drawing skills and return home with a bag of goodies that we gifted to every participant,” she says.

Fundemic, born out of the Covid pandemic last year, is another

The huts are in a pathetic shape and would just collapse any moment. So we discussed with the tribals and decided

to strengthen the huts.

fundraiser programme of the club aimed at helping with education of schoolchildren. “We named it Fundemic to raise funds for the Covid pandemic victims. Last year when we started it was an online event. We had a stand-up comedy show and we raised `50,000 in a week through ticket sale.” Part of the funds was used to provide groceries and basic essentials to Street Vision, an orphanage, and the remaining amount was spent on a transgender community who were uprooted by the government from their dwelling place within the city and relocated to Semmandur on the city’s outskirts. “We helped them with the basic essentials, medicines and some cash.”

This year the club had organised a variety of performing arts events by budding artists at the auditorium of Saveetha College of Business Management, and it had a good footfall earning the club `80,000. The fundraiser helped to support 380 children from a Sri Lankan refugee camp in Gummidipoondi near Chennai. “We gave them school essentials and set up a basic library for them at a local tuition centre. Our parent club sponsored the school fees for 10 children from belowpoverty-line families. We had other donors too to support us,” says Sivaranjani, who works for an NGO that takes care of children of terminally ill parents or HIV victims.

DRCC Sesha M Sai and Col Lakshmanakumar, Youth Services director of RC Chennai Towers, presided over the Fundemic event this year.

The parent club is a huge support to the Rotaractors and pitches in with ideas and monetary help. The Rotaract club was chartered nine years ago and presently it has 80 members, a mix of students and working professionals.

A beautician training programme for transgenders in progress.

A vocational training programme for transgenders

Kiran Zehra

It is time we stop checking the box on diversity, equity and inclusion and begin to make an impact,” says Deepanshu, ZRR, RID 3070. With that in mind three Rotaract clubs from his zone — RACs GGNIMT, North Ludhiana and Ludhiana Supporters — organised a vocational training programme for members of the transgender community, in association with two local NGOs — Jeet Foundation and City Needs.

The training programme is being undertaken by Jeet Foundation and during the International Week of Happiness (March 17–22) Rotaractors promoted the initiative under the event Happy Camp. “Each year we visit an orphanage or old age home and distribute clothes, sweets and food during the Week of Happiness. This year we wanted to help members of the transgender community,” says Deepanshu who chaired the event. Such programmes, he says, are a “driver for positive change not just in Ludhiana but across the country.” In most big cities in India, he points out that there are “strong transgender associations and communities. It’s the smaller cities and towns that need more sensitisation and to see change we have to move from awareness to action,” he adds.

“I am a talented make-up artist but people look down upon me because I am a transgender. This certified training programme will help me find a job or start something small on my own,” says Sandy, a participant of the vocational training programme and adds that

“this programme has not only polished my skills but the interaction with the Rotaractors made me realise that we can be treated normally without being patronised.”

Positive experiences like these “are a genuine way to appreciate the unique talents this community has to offer. Besides this is also a great way for them to connect, learn and engage,” says the ZRR.

At the closing ceremony of the Happy Camp members of the transgender community participated in games, sang songs and danced to the tune of latest Punjabi songs. “I enjoyed myself and made new genuine friends. Rotaractors are people I can trust and I know I can call them when in need,” smiles Sandy. In addition to festivities Rotaractors honoured them by giving them red roses and cut a cake.

Ashish Arora, the District Rotaract secretary and Nishul Sood, ZRR-Himachal zone, along with a few RI officers, attended the closing ceremony. “Organisations with diverse perspectives and representation are more successful than the rest. We request other Rotaract zones and districts to organise a Happy Camp because everyone deserves happiness and as Rotaractors we should begin to make an impact.” Members of the transgender community participating in an activity at the Happy Camp.

RID 3040 Rotaract notches record growth

V Muthukumaran

With the introduction of annual RI dues for Rotaractors from July 1, “it will be a challenge to sustain membership in the short term. But the new policy change will ensure that we induct quality Rotaractors and the focus is on doing impactful, large projects for the communities,” says DRR Yatharth Golchha, RID 3040.

As per the new RI directive, community-based Rotaract clubs have to pay $8 per year for a Rotaractor, while clubs at institutions (like colleges) need to pay $5 per head annually. “Till last year, most of our clubs are dependent on their parent Rotary clubs for funds, sponsorship and mentorship. But now, after the introduction of district Rotaract funds from July 2021 during my installation our approach is oriented towards financial independence through mobilising funds internally and seeking sponsorship without the support of Rotary,” explains Golchha. To begin with, Rotaractors have to pay `150 each per year for district funds, apart from the membership fee the clubs may collect from them. “This fee is a modest step we have taken, but this will initiate the habit of mobilising funds within Rotaract for organising events and programmes.”

New rules, structure During his installation, his district Rotaract team has introduced bylaws to streamline the functioning of Rotaract clubs in RID 3040. “Now with these laws, a sort of ready reckoner, a Rotaractor can refer to it as a handy guide for the conduct of projects, meetings and other aspects of Rotaract,” says Golchha.

At the RID 3040’s Garba Mahotsav during Navaratri. DRR Yatharth Golchha is standing sixth from left.

(Middle row, from L) Rtn Anoop Golchha, PDG Nitin Dafaria, SEARIC MDIO president-nominee Abhishek Goyal, DRR Yatharth Golchha, PDRR Tejasva Gandhi and IPDRR Rtn Bharat Vijayvargiya at the Rotaract District Assembly and installation titled Genesis.

He has also launched Rotaract Business Connect (RBC), a virtual forum to promote the businesses of Rotaractors through B2B and B2C networking. “So far the RBC forum would have benefitted over 60 Rotaractors in our district.

A slew of high-profile events has enabled the Rotaractors to bond with each other like never before. The one-day Garba Mahotsav during Navaratri in Indore saw Rotarians too joining the gala fellowship. “DG Col Mahendra Mishra was the chief guest at the social get-together in which dance and music, followed by a sumptuous dinner, gave us something to look back in future,” he recalls. Around 60–70 Rotaractors took part in the festival event.

However, the main highlight of his term so far has been the two-day virtual DTS (district training seminar) titled Rehnumai (guidance in Urdu), in which 15 speakers including DG Mishra, DGE Jinendra Jain, DGN Ritu Grover, DRRs and PDRRs shared their views at the interactive sessions. Rotaract Pro League saw a combination of games — badminton, volleyball, chess and table tennis — and field athletics like sack race and others brought out the sporting skills of Rotaractors.

District record RID 3040 has installed two Rotaract clubs with largest charter membership in this district. RAC Indore Oriental Navlakha was chartered with 646 membership in September 2021 and its strength has risen to over 900 by March-end. Another club, RAC GH Raisoni University at Sausar in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh was chartered with over 350 members in July.

“We launched a district Rotaract portal www.3040rotaract.org to upload projects and share best practices,” says Golchha.

A freelance fashion photographer and Rotaractor since 2017, Golchha is the third generation Rotarian in his family. His father Anoop Golchha is a second-level PHF, while mother Vandana is also a Rotarian. “My grandfather Gian Chand Golchha is a former Rotarian who had sown the seeds of ‘service above self’ in our family.”

The DRR says a lot of promotional activities will be taken to draw new Rotaractors from colleges and other institutions. “When I took over as DRR, we had 719 Rotaractors in July last year; now the strength is 2,550 across 57 Rotaract clubs in RID 3040, a meteoric growth of 350 per cent,” smiles Golchha.

When I took over as DRR, we had

719 Rotaractors in July last year; now the strength is 2,550 across 57 Rotaract clubs in RID 3040, a

meteoric growth of 350 per cent.

DRR Yatharth Golchha, RID 3040

Cheering the disabled

Jaishree Jaishree

For 15 consecutive years RAC Ambattur, RID 3232, has been hosting the annual day celebrations for the physically/ mentally-challenged students studying in eight special schools in Chennai. “The cultural programmes will be designed by the respective schools and the staff will train their students to perform. We organise the venue and ensure that it is disabledfriendly and comfortable for the children,” says Sathishkumar, president of this 30-year-old club sponsored by RC Ambattur. The event helps to unearth the latent talent of these children and “it is a pleasure to see their performances, overcoming their challenges.” The paintings done by some of the children and exhibited at the venue also won appreciations from the audience.

The participants are recognised with gifts and a sumptuous dinner is served for the children, has been hosting their parents and school staff. the annual day The programme is popular celebrations for the physically/ and many people including mentally-challenged students Rotarians and Rotaractors look studying in eight special schools forward to attending it every in Chennai. “The cultural year. Several philanthropists programmes will be designed by come forward to sponsor the the respective schools and the fees for the students. “We do staff will train their students to the background verification perform. We organise the venue and authentication. The donors

president of this 30-year-old club sponsored by RC Ambattur. The event helps to unearth the latent talent of these children and “it is a pleasure to see their performances, overcoming their challenges.” The paintings done by some of the children and exhibited at the venue also won appr reciations from the audience. their parents and school staff.

The programme is popular and many people including Rotarians and Rotaractors look forward to attending it every year. Several philanthropists come forward to sponsor the fees for the students. “We do the background verification and authentication. The donors

A donor hands over a cheque to a parent to sponsor the education of a student at the Vidiyal programme.

Above and below: Cultural performances by participants.

directly hand over the sponsor onsor funds to the students in the e presence of the parents.” At At the end of the programme the the club distributes gift kits such uch as tiffin box, stationery, school chool bags, etc each year to all the the students. “Every year we discuss the children’s needs ds with the school coordinators ors beforehand. We also recognise gnise the coordinators and support ort staff at the event.” he says. s. Cremating unclaimed bodies The club received the best project award two years ago at the RSAMDIO conference for its service project — cremation of

odies project e r its on of

Every year we discuss the the children’s needs with the school school coordinators beforehand. We also recognise the coordinators and support staff at the event.

d. We

nators event.

Sathish Kumar

president, RAC Ambattur. ur.

Artwork done by the children exhibited at the cultural programme venue.

unclaimed bodies. Whenever they get information from the Royapettah General Hospital and the Chintadripet Police Station about anonymous deaths in their jurisdiction, the officials notify the Rotaractors and after the requisite formalities, hand over the body for cremation to them. Not many people are ready to participate in this project as it involves visiting the mortuary and the crematorium, says Sathishkumar, adding that The club received the best

project award two years ago at the RSAMDIO conference for its service

project — cremation of unclaimed dead bodies.

he is part of a specific team in his club that has been executing this project for the past three years.

Club member Sudankumar leads the team. “Earlier his father was involved in this project and it was through him we got drawn to it.” The Rotaractors take care of the basic rituals and visit the crematorium to provide a decent cremation. Each service costs about `2,500, says the club president.

The club has 92 Rotaractors and most of them are college students although it is a community-based club. The members pay annual dues of `750 each.

Making children smile

Team Rotary News

Rotaractors distribute toys and games kits at an orphanage.

Club members of RAC AK Chanda Law College, RID 3240, travelled around Silchar, Assam, to distribute chocolates and toys to underprivileged children across the city.

“We wanted to do something for children from poor economic background and see then all excited and happy,” says Gourab, the project chair. “The children ate the chocolates and we gave them extra,” he smiles. The toys included cricket bats, teddy bears and dolls.

It was a “delightful moment” for Gourab when one child at an orphanage “walked up to me and asked me if I will bowl for him. We played with the children and it felt good,” he says.

The club also distributed new clothes for these children. The project chair says “a big thanks to my club members for their contribution to the drive. We gave about 3–4 sets of clothes to each child including socks and underwear. We plan to do more this year.”

High visibility Rotaract projects at Dharmanagar

V Muthukumaran

Right guidance and motivation by Rotary will go a long way in nurturing Rotaractors and RAC Dharmanagar, RID 3240, sponsored by RC Dharmanagar is a good example of how “Rotarians have taken upon themselves the responsibility of creating a right framework for us to thrive in this scenic city which has a huge population of Bengalis,” says DRRE Sandip Das, who is also a Rotarian.

Dharmanagar, located 170km north of capital Agartala, is the second biggest city in Tripura and has a vibrant business community. “We are a team of 40 Rotaractors consisting of students, private firm employees and professionals like doctors, engineers and lawyers. Community projects are discussed at our meetings held four times a month. Our Rotary club offers its rented premises for our general body and board meetings,” explains Das, also charter president and mentor of RAC Dharmanagar. Formed in January 2019 and chartered the next month, this young club is distributing freshly-prepared food packets twice a month to roadside families, destitute and homeless people under a rechristened Project Plate of Happiness. “We have been doing the food project earlier as part of Annapurna Day celebrations in the first week of July, but without much publicity. Now under the rebranded initiative, Rotaractors distribute around 50 food packets a month with liberal donations from our Rotarians and sponsors,” he says.

Sometimes well-to-do families deliver to the club the leftover, untouched dishes from their private parties and social occasions. “We sort them out and neatly package the food items before distribution. But on most occasions, Rotaractors prepare food at their homes, package and supply them to a team of 15 project volunteers who are into distribution. Over the months, the club has received a lot of appreciation from the local communities, and “some well-to-do families also donate food to us.”

Over the last three years, they have installed four sanitary vending machines at the Government Degree College, Dharmanagar, and three government schools, which has benefitted around 1,000 girls. “Our club is probably the first NGO in the city

A trainer demonstrates at the Defend the Dark, a self-defence workshop for girls.

Past AG Shibabrata Dutta (3rd from L), RAC Dharmanagar IPP Ananya Bhattacharya (centre), RC Dharmanagar IPP Monish Kanti Bhattacharya (3rd from R) and to his left is DRRE Sandip Das at the zonal meet titled Maloncho.

to install a pad vending machine and we have a plan to set up another 3–4 machines by the end of this Rotary year,” says Das.

Defend the Dark As charter president, he initiated a two-day workshop titled Defend the Dark to provide self-defence training to girls and rural women. “Around 65 participants were taught basic skills in martial arts through four sessions held with the support of All Tripura Thang-Ta Association in December 2019. Senior police officers and martial arts experts took part in this event which was widely covered in the local media.”

Last year (2020–21), the club hosted a zonal conference that saw the participation of 65 Rotaractors from seven clubs and “they had stimulating sessions that honed their organisational skills.” Rtns Pranoy Chanda and Monish Kanti Bhattacharya, past presidents, RC Dharmanagar, are pillars of support to Rotaractors as “they have guided and counselled us on many occasions in the past. Even for want of funds, we approach them and they are ready to help us in whatever way they can,” says Das.

From L: DRRE Sandip Das, Rtrs Dipujjal Das, Ankan Deb, Debarshi Paul and Sambhu Sankar Chakraborty at the installation of a sanitary pad vending machine at the Tilthai RC Higher Secondary School, Dharmanagar. New Rotaract policy Quiz him on the goals he will pursue as DRR (2022–23), he says, “first, I have to make Rotaractors aware of policy changes Rotary International has brought for Rotaract from July 1. While a Rotaractor has to pay RI dues of $8 a year ($5 for institution-based clubs), he or she needs to register at My Rotary to get a personal ID.” At present, Rotaractors at Dharmanagar pay monthly club dues of `100 per head, apart from district fees. “Most of them are ready to pay the new RI dues for Rotaract clubs. I’d like to unite all the 1,200-plus Rotaractors across 62 active clubs in RID 3240 so that the next DRR will have it easy to go ahead with big programmes.” During his term, Das wants to focus on sustaining the number of clubs and Rotaractors and “try to add at least 300 new members to push up their strength to 1,500 by the end of June 2023.”

But to achieve “these modest goals I have to create awareness about the changed Rotaract policy which is a challenge,” says the 29-year-old lab technologist at the Damcherra Primary Health Centre, North Tripura.

Project Period Power creates impact in Solapur

V Muthukumaran

Two-year-old RAC Sangameshwar College in Solapur, RID 3132, is busy raising funds from the public and Rotarians to execute a slew of high-visibility projects in and around the city. “We have 40 Rotaractors and all of them participate in our monthly activities with enthusiasm. Our teams had conducted three MHM workshops in colleges that saw participation of at least 45–50 girls in each menstrual hygiene camp under Project Period Power. At the three virtual sessions for the same project, we had altogether 100 online visitors,” says Shreya Mashal, club president.

Expressing gratitude to her parent RC Solapur North which sponsored the Rotaract club, she says Rtn Poonam Deodas, the IPP, guides them “at every step. She helps the Rotaractors in both planning and executing

RAC Sangameshwar College president Shreya Mashal (4th from L), along with Rotaractors, at the Mahadan camp.

Rotaractors at the Prathana Balagram during Holi celebrations.

the service projects. She has been a great mentor to us.” The club has contributed `1.5 lakh out of `30–35 lakh for the renovation of the Prathana Old Age Home which was a joint initiative of local NGOs. “We collected money from the public and large-hearted donors, also some Rotarians helped us, and we were happy that we had played a role in making the life of elderly and destitute a little more comfortable at this old age home,” she says.

For the 15 children at the Prathana Balagram, Rotaractors shower them with goodies including new clothes, toys, study material and other essentials during festivals and special occasions like Diwali, Holi, Independence and Republic Days. “Our visit to the children’s home is a regular feature as we are happy to see the smile on the little ones’ faces during our lively interactions there.”

Hybrid projects

During the Covid lockdown, the club hosted 2–3 webinars for the

RC Solapur North IPP Poonam Deodas (right) along with Rotaractors at the Project Period Power in a government girls school.

college students and Rotaractors. “We had a motivational lecture on how to be inspired to do social work; followed by a career guidance for those preparing for competitive exams; and of course, we had multiple virtual sessions on MHM for college girls,” explains president-elect Sanjana Nagtilak. They collected 35 bottles of blood at the Mahadan camp to mark World

With the aim to create

awareness about Rotaract

and its global activities, the club has shot a five-

minute documentary film with zero cost. Rotaract Week in the first week of March.

At one of the physical MHM sessions at the Sonamata High School in the city, “a team of Rotaractors visited Classes 7–8 and addressed 35–40 girls in the age group of 12-14 during their class hours. Later on, Rtn Poonam gave a lecture-demo on hygienic use of sanitary pads and their safe disposal for the target girls group,” she says.

With the aim to create awareness about Rotaract and its global activities, the club has shot a five-minute documentary film with zero cost as “it was shot in our smartphones and Rotaractors acted in it. But we need support from our Rotary club to release the short film for the wider audience for good impact,” says Shreya.

In the near future, there is a plan to hold study and art lectures for children in slum colonies in and around Solapur. “We want to give shape to their imaginations through creative pursuits. The project is still in the drawing board, but once finalised it will help the underprivileged students to sharpen and display their creative talent for the public,” she says. Another outreach programme they are planning to do is motivational workshops for transgenders “as part of our ongoing monthly events to motivate them to succeed in life.”

Rotarians from their parent Rotary have been generous in their donations “which is one of the factors for the success of our community outreach so far,” chorus Shreya and Sanjana. There are three Rotaract clubs in Solapur having around 120 Rotaractors. “But as one of the two institution-based clubs, we want to be different in our approach to social work and very soon we will reach out to various sections of people through impactful and motivational projects,” adds Shreya, doing MA (English) at the Sangameshwar College.

Eye camp in Aurangabad

Team Rotary News

RAC Achievers, RID 3132, in association with AGS Eye Hospital, Aurangabad, organised a free eye check-up camp at the hospital. The Rotaract club wanted to help people from different walks of life and create awareness on eyecare in the city. “The overall objective of the project was to reduce the burden of avoidable blindness among local villagers and seamlessly carry out a partnership project,” says Pratik Deshmukh, the club secretary.

Dr Mahesh Patak led his team of optometrists from the hospital to examine over 250 patients. Around 100 patients were referred for eye surgery.

The Rotaractors helped the beneficiaries with

Rotaractors at AGS Eye Hospital, Aurangabad.

registration, screening and collecting medicines. They also accompanied patients who were referred for surgery to a waiting room where “we spoke to them and helped them understand the surgical process and further accompanied them to a second screening,” says Deshmukh.

Post-screening, the prescriptions for eyeglasses were collected by the Rotaractors who helped all the patients to collect their medicines.

Dev, a 39-year-old IT employee from Aurangabad, says, “The doctors at the camp examined my eyes with care and recommended eyeglasses for better vision. I am very grateful to the Rotaractors for organising this camp.